MP Duncan Pegg resigns to fight cancer

Palaszczuk government MP Duncan Pegg has announced he will resign, triggering a by-election in his suburban Brisbane seat.

Duncan Pegg announcing he has cancer in November 2019. Picture: AAP

Palaszczuk government MP Duncan Pegg has made an impassioned plea to his colleagues about Queensland’s pending voluntary euthanasia legislation as he announced he would resign from parliament to fight cancer.

The resignation will trigger a by-election in the suburban Brisbane electorate of Stretton, but the result will have little impact on Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Labor government which has a comfortable five-seat majority.

Mr Pegg, who previously took time off from his political career after he was diagnosed with cancer in late 2019, was given a standing ovation in the Queensland parliament on Thursday as he ­announced his resignation and thanked his colleagues and constituents in an emotional speech.

“Up until this point, I have been able to effectively represent my local area while fighting against cancer,” Mr Pegg said.

“Based on my most recent medical advice, I will no longer be able to continue to both fight cancer and also fight for my local area in the manner in which my community deserves.

“I make this announcement with the heaviest of hearts … but I know the decision to resign is the right one. Indeed, it is the only decision that is faithful to my values and work ethic.”

Mr Pegg, 40, was elected in 2015 and increased his margin at the 2017 and 2020 elections. He was re-elected in 2020 after defeating LNP candidate Peter Zhuang with a buffer of 14.28 per cent.

Mr Pegg urged his colleagues to speak with people with terminal illnesses and their families before casting their vote on voluntary assisted dying legislation this year.

“I speak as someone who regularly speaks to cancer patients with a terminal illness,” he said.

“If you are diagnosed terminal, then ultimately you are going to face death. People with terminal illnesses want to have an option.”